Artificial arm.



W. T. CARNES.

ARTIFICIAL ARM. APPLIGATION IILED MAR; 18, 1912.

Patented Dec.'10; 1912.

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W. I; GARNES. ARTIFICIAL ABM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1912..

Batented Dec. 10, 1912.

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W. T. GARNES.

ARTIFICIAL ARM. 1 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1912 1,046,967. Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

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UNITED STATES, PATENT ormon WILLIAM T. CARNES, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 CARNES ARTIFICIAL LIMB COMPANY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

ARTIFICIAL ARM.

Kansas City, in the county of'Jackson and State of Missouri, 'havevinvented certain new anduseful Improvements in Artificial Arms; and Iv do hereby declare'the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as, will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, forming partof this specification.

My invention relates to artificial limbs of the type illustrated and described in U.'S. Letters-PatentNo; 760,102, dated May 17, 1904 and S. Letters-Patent N0. 999,48 dated August 1, 1911, issued upon myapplication s, and has for its object the constructing ofmechanism by which an oper- -ating.cord, which in the above mentioned patents Wasusedfor operatingthe fingers of the artificial hand, maybe used for operating the elbow joint of an artificial arm in cases where the amputation is above the elbow joint, the mechanism which is the subject of this invention being so contrived that by means of a single operating cord, the fingers of the artificial hand may be opened and closed.

The features of my invention are hereinafter set forth and fully described and illus trated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

F igure 1, isa back view ofla supporting and operating harness, and artificial arm in-place upon the shoulders and stump of a wearer; the harness shown in this figure being the same as that shown, described and claimed in my pending application filed June 7,1911, Serial No. 631,806, and forms no part of the present invention; Fig.2, is a front viewof the same. Fig. 3, is a front view of my artificial arm, having the upper end thereof broken away, and shone ing the fore-arm in section so as to'disclos'ethe reverslng mechanism therein, and having thehand'member thereof brokeni'away. Fig. 4-, is aside view of the same. Fig. 5, is an enlarged side view in elevation of the reversing mechanism removed from the fore-arm. Fig. 6, is an end view of the same looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5. Fig. 7, is an endview of the Specification of Letters Patent. Applica tion filed March 18 Patented Dee-10, 191a. 1912;- Serial No, 684,468.

ratchetavheel removed from the reversing mechanism.

Fig. 8, is a side view of the same. Fig. 9,. is a side view of the wrist and hand. members with portions h tbroken away.

' Intliese drawings A, indicates the forearm member of my improved artificial arm A, .indicatesthe upper or Socket member thereof'adapted to fit and receive the stump of an arm whichhas been amputated above the elbow joint, r indicates the wrist member, A ,indicates the wrist joint, and A, indicates the hand member of my improvedd artificial arm, B indicates astrap (see Fig. 1) passing diagonally upward across the back and over the shoulder opposite to the amputated'arm' and downward across the front of said shoulder and-backward under that arm- (see Fig. ,2) and then upward acrosstheback and over the shoulder of the amputated arm and down in front of the amputated-arm, endingwin a loop 13', (see Fig. 2) saidst-rdp B, at the back of the wearer being also provided with a terminal loop 13 (see Fig. l) secured to the strap 13,

and passing therefrom diagonally downward across the chest isa strap C, terminat-' ing in a'loop C, adjacent to the artificial arm (see Fig. 2) 'the balance of the harness shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and its purpose, is fully shown and described in the aforesaid co-pending application and further description thereof in thisapplication is not deemed necessary. .I I

From the terminal 10 5 B, at the'back of the arm member A,,'anoperating cord D, extends around a pulley d, into the arm member A, and through the same to the vopposite side thereofwhere 'it passes out around the pulley d, and around the lower end of the arm member A, and down into and is secured to the fore-arm member A, (see Figs. 8 and 4) the fore-arm member A, is hinged upon the arm-member A, by meansof an elbow pivot a, so'that when it' is desired tobend the elbow joint, an upward and forward movement of the shoul- -deropposite to theamputated arm will, by

means of the strap. B, pull on the cord 1), and cause the fore-arm member to swing forward and upward on the pivot a. \Vithin the fore-arm member A, I mount a shaft E, upon suitable supports 6, secured to the inner wall of the shell of the fore-arm member. Upon this shaft E, (see Fig. 6) is secured an arm E, having on its outer end 2 s 5 ears IL andE and having also between the ears E and E recesses 6, (see Fig. 5)

tapped therein. The cars E extending entirely across the end of the arm E, and extending. below the lower edge thereof as shown by broken lines in Fig. 5.

Between the ears E and E I pivot rock ing-ratchets F and F, by meansof the pivot f, and underneath one end of the rocking-ratchets F and F, within the recesses e, I place springs f.

Between the lower ends of the ears E on the arm E, I mounta ratchet-wheel G, having a hub on each side thereof extending to the inner faces of the ears E upon a 'pivot g. The ratchet-wheel G, is provided with six teeth, and the hub G, thereof on each side of the ratchet-wheel G, is provided with three notches g, the notches g, in the hub G, being staggered with relation to the notches g, on the opposite side of the ratchet-wheel; the notches 9, being adapted to receive the lower ends of' the rockingratchets F and F, alternately on eaclr side of the ratchet-wheel-G. Secured upon the -in the arm J, is a cord J leading to a spring J the opposite end of which is secured to the inner surface of the fore-arm member A, so that sa'id spring J will operate to normally retain the arm E, in the position thereof shown in Fig. 5.v To the arm E, is secured an operating cord D, w.hich

extends around a pulley (Z within the arm member A, on the pivot a, and is attached On the shaft E,'at each side of the arm E,

I moiintarms K and K, which are provided with flanged earslc, and [1, adapted to be alternately engaged by the rocking-ratchets F and F, and pivoted in theouter ends of the arms K and K, are adjustable fastenings L and L, for the finger operating cords D'- and D the cords D and D being secured to the parts L and L, by means of the screwsleeves Z.

Fig. 9 shows the cordsD and D extendinginto the hand member A, and attached to the finger controlling mechanism T, which is fully shown and described and claimed in an application of even date herewith. From the terminalloop C, on the strap C, (see Fig. 2) a cord D, extends over pulleys 61?, and (Z, into the fore-arm member A, and terminates in the wrist swivel locking mechanism thereof, which is particnlarly shown, described and claimed in the said application of even date herewith.

The wrist swivel operating bar a in this case extends from the disk G in the wrist mechanism, upward through the fore-arm member A, and is pivoted in the upper arm member A, by means of a pivot a", at one side of the hinge-pivot a, as shown in Fig. 4, so that when the elbow hinge is operated, the wrist mechanism will operate.

In operation, when it is desired to close the fingers ofthehand member A by dropping the shoulder opposite to the maimed arm'a strain is put on the strap B, which crosses upward from that shoulder and by a slight upward movement of the maimed shoulder, the strap B, in front of the maimed shoulder will pull upon the cord D, which passes from the terminal loop B,

'down through the fore-arm member A, and

is secured in the swinging lever E, which movement on the cord D, causes the lever E, to swing upward.

In Figs. 4 and 5, the rocking-ratchets F, and F ,are shown in the positions in which they rest when the arm E has been returned to its normal position after moving the lever K, to the position thereof shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The positions of the mechanisms shown in Figs. 4 and 5, are substantially as follows; viz :-The rocking-ratchet- F,. by reason of the rotation of the ratchet wheel G, and its hub G, one notch, by engagement with the dog H, the lower end of the rocking-ratchet has been forced upward, out ofa notch in the hub of the ratchet-wheel G, which movement of the lower end of said ratchet has depressed the upper end of the same so that the ratchet F, will pass underneath the flanged lip k, on the arm K. Now when this C01( 'D, is again pulled as hereinbefore described, the arm E, will swing upward on the shaftE, and the rocking-ratchet F, will engage the flanged lip on the arm K, and carry it upward therewith to a similar position as that shown of the arm K, in Fig. 5, which movement of the arm K, will, through the parts L and Z, pull on the cord D which passes down through the wrist mechanism and into the hand member A, where it is secured to and adapted to rotate the finger controlling mechanism '1, for the purpose of closing the fingers of the artificial hand. This operation of the mechanism T, (see Fig. 9) will cause the cord D3, to be wound on, said mechanism, which will cansc the arm K, to swing forward into the position thereof occupied by the arm K, in Fig. 5. When the tension on the cord D, is relaxed, the tension of the spring J causes the arm E, to return to the normal position thereof shown in Fig. 5, which causes the ratchet-wheel G, to be engaged by the dog H, so as to turn the same one notch, which movement of the ratchet wheel G, and its the flanged lip /s, on the arm K, and move itv back again to the position thereof shown in.

Fig. 5, which movement will, through the adjustable parts L and Z, pull. on the cord D for the purpose of operating the finger controlling mechanism to again open the fingers of the artificial hand, A, which op- .eration of the mechanism T, will draw the arm K, back to the position thereof shown in Fig. 5. It will therefore be seen that every alternate pull on the cord D, will cause the finger mechanismsto open and the other alternate pull on the cord D, will cause them to close.

The peculiar structure and arrangement of the shoulder harness is not herein claimed, as it forms the subject matter of a separate application.

Therefore having shown and described the construction and operation of my invention so as to enable others to construct and use the same, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in anartificial arm composed of forearm, wrist, and hand members, of finger opening and closing mechanism mounted in the hand member, reversing mechanism in said artificial z-rm, power communicating means extending between said finger opening and closing mechanism and said reversing mechanism,

and power communicating means extending from said reversing mechanism upward, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination in an artificial arm, adapted for use on an amputation above the elbow joint, of an upper arm socket member, harness mechanism adapted to secure the same on the arm-stump, a fore-arm member hinged to said socket member, and an operating cord secured to said fore-arm member and passing therefrom over the front of the lower end of the socket member and through and out of the rear thereof where it may be secured to an operating strap attached to said supporting harness, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in an artificial arm, adapted for use on an amputation above the elbow joint of an upper arm-socket member, harness mechanism adapted to secure the same on the arm-stump, a fore-arm member hinged on said socket member, an elbow-joint operating cord secured in said fore-arm member and passing through and out of said socket member to and attached to an operating strap secured to said sup porting harness, a wrist member secured on said fore-arm member, a hand member secured on said wrist member, finger operating mechanism in said hand member, a finger opening and a finger closing cord secured to said finger operating mechanism and extending therefrom upward through the hand and wrist members into said forearm member, reversing mechanism mounted in said fore-arm member to which said finger operating cords attached, and a cord secured to said reversing mechanism and extending therefrom to and attached to an operating strap secured to said supporting harness, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination in an artificial arm, of a fore-arm member, wrist and hand members, finger opening and closing mechanism in said hand member, operating cords secured to said mechanism and extending therefrom upward into said fore-arm member, reciprocating cord supports mounted within said fore-arm member to which said operating cords are secured, reciprocating ratchet mechanism mounted in said forearm member adapted to alternately engage and move one of said cord supports, spring mechanism to move said ratchet mechanism in one direction, and an operating 60rd to movethe same in the opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

5. In an artificial arm, the combination of a fore-arm member, a. wrist member and hand member secured thereon, an oscillating arm -mounted therein, a pair of spring pressed rocking'ratchets mounted thereon, ratchet-wheel mechanism mounted thereon adapted to alternately actuate said rocking ratchets, a spring pressed dog adapted to engage said ratchet-wheel mechanism at the end of each reciprocation of said oscillating arm, spring mechanism adapted to actuate said arm in one direction, a cord secured to said arm adapted to operate the same in the vopposite direction, a pair of oscillating arms mounted in said fore-arm member adapted to be alternately engaged by said rocking ratchets, finger opening and closing mechanism in said hand member and finger act-uating means secured to said oscillating arms and extending therefrom downward through said forearm, wrist and hand members to and secured to said finger opening and closing mechanism, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination in an artificial arm comprising a fore-arm, wrist and hand members, of an oscillating arm mounted therein, spring pressed rocking-ratchets mounted on said oscillating arm, ratchet-wheel mechanism mounted on said arm adapted to alternately operate said rocking ratchets, a spring pressed dog adapted to engage and operate said ratchet-wheel mechanism at the return end of each oscillation of said arm, oscillating supporting arms mounted 01 a common axis with said first mentioned oscillating arm adapted to be alternately, engaged by said rockingd'atchets, finger direction and an operating cord adapted to 0 operate the same in the other direction, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I uflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM T. GARNES. Vit-nesses LANDRY fhmvoon, FANNIE O. RUPERT.

Copies oi this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

' Washinp'ton, D. G. 

